At 8am on a Tuesday morning, four heavy duty tipper trucks are waiting to be signed in at the United Nations Mission of South Sudan compound in Juba.

Their load? Much needed aggregate that will create the base for new accommodation for civilian and uniformed peacekeepers serving communities around the capital city.

“We get this coarse aggregate from local crusher plants about 30 km from Juba and transport it on demand, says Kelati Tekeste, whose company Abraham Logistics and Construction has been supplying UNMISS with construction materials for seven years.

“They have to finish depositing all the load so we can start to level it. We are expecting more aggregate,” says UNMISS engineer, Nestor Ngongo.

Elsewhere in the camp, a large pot of water is on the boil. Alongside the cups of tea being prepared, are healthy portions of casava, sweet potato, tasty groundnut paste, and seasonal fruits.

“This is the kind of healthy food everybody wants to eat these days,” says Luca Jackson. “That is why I come here.”  

Luca has come to eat at the Self-Help Women’s cafeteria which has been providing much needed sustenance to UNMISS personnel since 2011.

“We are selling organic food that we buy from our local market and bring it straight to the cafeteria to cook,” says Jemima Angua, the group’s General Manager. “We started with a small business but now we are growing. These women came without experience, but now they are experts.”

These vendors are just two of many businesses that over the years secured contracts to supply UNMISS with many commodities and services so it can carry out its work to protect civilians, facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian aid, and build peace.

They were also among the 90 participants at the third UNMISS Business Seminar held in Juba.

Prior to the first seminar in 2021, about 1,280 South Sudanese businesses were registered on the United Nations Global Markets. That has now increased by 659 to 1,939.

“This is a good upward trend – we are seeing encouraging results due to these business seminars and the local vendors knowing how to engage with the UN”, says Kessiah Wambugu, UNMISS Chief of Procurement.

“A revitalized and strengthened local private sector and improved business environments, contribute to local economic growth, sustainable development, and job creation, particularly for youth and women,” said Guang Cong, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General while opening the seminar.

He stressed that economic transformation in South Sudan depends on a strong and vibrant private sector which “helps consolidate the peace that UNMISS and the United Nations is here to support.”

While the seminars help increase the number of suppliers working with UNMISS, and the volume of goods and services purchased, it also strengthens understanding of procurement rules and how businesses can register with the UN.

Being a vendor is not without its challenges.

“Because of inflation in the market, it has not been easy,” says Jemima Angua. “The prices keep increasing out of control, but we are managing to maintain our customers and clients.”

Government representative at the seminar, Ambassador Riak Pouk, said the Ministry of Trade is helping businesses to compete locally and internationally.

“I encourage all the businesses to do their best and play by the book because when do this, you are safe and can grow to new heights.”